Screen breaks and better sleep
We’ve all heard that too much screen time can mess with sleep. Still, few of us realise just how connected the two really are. It’s not just the blue light or the endless scroll — it’s the mental carryover. Our brains stay switched on long after the screen turns off, buzzing with unfinished thoughts, emotional residue, and the quiet tension of always being “on.” That overstimulation makes it harder to settle, drift off, and wake up feeling restored.
The answer isn’t a dramatic digital detox — it’s a reset in rhythm. Creating small, intentional pauses helps your brain distinguish between alertness and rest again. A few mindful habits can go a long way.
Rest doesn’t start the moment you close your laptop or lock your phone. Build a short “in-between” ritual — tidying your desk, stepping outside, or doing a quick stretch — to signal that work or scrolling mode is over. Your brain needs a handover, not a hard stop.
The body anchors rest faster through the senses. Try swapping the phone for something physical — a book, a cup of tea, even folding laundry. These small, real-world movements help your nervous system downshift more effectively than any app can.
Rather than banning screens entirely, choose one or two places where they simply don’t belong — maybe the bedroom or the dinner table. Physical boundaries make mental ones easier to keep.
When you give your attention a little space to rest, your body follows suit. Sometimes the best reset starts with simply looking away.